.NET 4.0 build server reference assemblies warnings MSB3644 [duplicate]

Answer 1

After days of scouring the web for answers, looking extensively through project config files with reference assemblies mentioned, the above-mentioned advice to use Windows 8.1 SDK to re-install a missing 4.5.1 reference assembly finally did the trick.

In my case, I was attempting to 'start without debugging' a new ASP.Net Core Web Application (.NET Core) created to follow the tutorial at: https://docs.asp.net/en/latest/tutorials/first-mvc-app/start-mvc.html

When using the SDK, I unchecked EVERYTHING accept for the reference assemblies. This was the only way I found to install 4.5.1 because other methods would fail due to the fact that I already had 4.5.2 and higher versions installed.

Kudos to this page for the answer that finally worked!

warning MSB3644: The reference assemblies for framework ".NETFramework,Version=v4.5.1" were not found. To resolve this, install the SDK or Targeting Pack for this framework version or retarget your application to a version of the framework for which you have the SDK or Targeting Pack installed.

Answer 2

This looks like a dup of this question: .NET 4.0 build issues on CI server and in any event should be solved in the manner prescribed there.

Make sure the windows 7 SDK is installed with (at a minimum) both the .NET Development "Intellisense and Reference Assemblies" and "Tools." If they say they are already installed, yet the reference assemblies do not exist on your disk, then uninstall and reinstall. I have confirmed the fix on my build server.